Azerbaijani fighter Rafael Fiziev’s manager, Sayat Abdrakhmanov, told “Match TV” that the main goal for his client is to defeat Chilean Ignacio Bahamondes at the upcoming UFC Fight Night event. He added that a win over any top-ranked opponent in the top 10 after that could bring the No. 12 lightweight contender back into the title race.
Fiziev will face Bahamondes at the UFC event in Baku on June 21, Idman.biz reports.
Bahamondes has won his last three fights via early stoppage in the first round. In contrast, Fiziev is on a three-fight losing streak.
“Rafa had a good training camp. He’s fully prepared both physically and mentally. Fighting at home is an extra motivation for him, and that might help him perform even better. However, it’s important to stay calm during the fight. He must not act on the crowd’s excitement. The main goal should be to defeat Bahamondes. The ideal scenario would be an early finish, not just fighting for the sake of fighting.”
– Bahamondes has won his last three fights via stoppage. In your opinion, what is his main threat?
– He’s not an easy opponent. His physical attributes—height and reach—stand out. But Rafa is already in the UFC Top 15, and at this level, easy opponents don’t exist. Let’s just say Bahamondes is a ‘good partner’ for a fight. It could be a great bout. But Rafa has faced tougher and more experienced opponents before. This time, experience is on his side.
– Would a win bring Fiziev back into the top 10 rankings?
– When we talked to the UFC, they simply asked: ‘What do you think about the Baku event? Which fight will be the most interesting and entertaining?’ We came to the conclusion that this will be a great and exciting fight. After this, he’ll return to the main roster of contenders. The UFC likes Rafa; they have a positive attitude toward him and will come up with exciting plans for him.
– But before those three losses, he was seen as a title contender. Now he's moved away from that list. How many wins would it take for him to return to the title race?
– Two wins, and he’ll be back among the top contenders. After that, it depends on the opponent. If he faces a top-tier fighter and wins, that victory would return Rafa to title contention.
– Between current contenders, would it be more appropriate for Fiziev to fight Topuria or Oliveira?
– It’s too early to talk about that now. The main focus is to get past Bahamondes successfully. After that, there could be many interesting options.
– In terms of fighting skills, is Fiziev behind Topuria, Oliveira, or others in the top five?
– Every fighter has their own strengths. Topuria’s boxing and Oliveira’s ground game can be dangerous for anyone. But Rafa’s unorthodox striking stance and technique are serious problems for any opponent.
For context, 32-year-old Rafael Fiziev has a career record of 12 wins and 4 losses. Ignacio Bahamondes, 27, holds a record of 17 wins and 5 losses in MMA.
Idman.biz
